I’m in Mythic City.

I hate it.

So many people, so many buildings, and hardly a tree in sight. The ones you can find, outside of a carefully tended park, are scrawny, ugly little things. It’s almost an insult to call them trees.

I’m surrounded by browns and tans and beiges. Sure, they might be the colors of nature, but they’re not the ones I want to see.

I miss home. I miss my family. Most of all I miss Grey. It was memories of him that guided me back, I’m sure of it. God, what happened to Hamilton while I was gone. My connection to him is gone, and there’s a hole in my heart. If I believe in God, or even gods, I’d be praying that’s he’s okay, or that I might some day find him again. But I know the truth about gods, and I have seen the face of demons.

And that’s why I came to Mythic. I doubt I’ll ever be able to excise what He did to me, but I’m tired of being afraid all the time. I need to learn more about what I am, and what I can become.

Lyla’s going to help with the mundane side of it. I swore I’d avoid her, but she found me. I hated it, but she managed to worm the information about me, that I was Taken, and it was because of her. Not her fault. Never her fault. I could have just left well enough alone, but my need to know, to find a way to help her, put me on this path. I was warned of the danger, but I did it anyway.

Do I regret it? Of course I do. If I could get a do-over, and chance to change the past, would I do it? Of course I would. Even though she and Ramiel terrify me down to the very core of my being, despite everything I’ve done and everything they might do, I still love them.

Lyla can’t come into Mythic proper because of a promise she’d made, but she helped me as best she could. Made introductions. Told them she’d “sold” me her businesses in the city and was withdrawing. I don’t think they were too happy at the prospect, but they’re giving me a chance to prove myself. To sink or swim in the sea of sharks. I’m almost looking forward to showing them my teeth are as sharp, if not sharper, than theirs.

I’ve already found a place to live, a little house in Highgate Manor. I can look out my front door and see the Iron Mountain State Park. A beautiful place. Not as wild as back home, but it might make due for when I’m truly lonely. There’s also larger places of wilderness outside town, but I don’t know who or what will be controlling them until Lyla’s Crusade is done.

Now that I’ve established myself, it’s time to find Mr. Seleman.